Web-tensioning device



Feb. 10, 1931. M. F U CH 1,792,081

WEB TENSIONING DEVICE Filed Feb. 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORMART/W FEYBl/scl-l,

M. FEYBUSCH WEB TENSIONING DEVICE Feb. 10, 1931.

Filed Feb. 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MART/7V Ffi'VBt/SCH, 3V2 zE Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARTINFEYIBUSCH, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORTO JERSEY MACSHINE CORPORATION, OF HOBOKEN,NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY WEB-TENSIONIN' G DEVICEApplication filed l'ebruary23, 1929. Serial No. 341,947.

Thepresent invention relates to devices for in connection with paper boxmanufacturing apparatus of the type wherein a narrow strip of coveringmaterial, such as paper, is adhesively coated and supplied to a boxwrapping or stripping machine where it is wrapped around the side wallsof a box body or ox cover. Ap aratus of this type consists essentiallyof any suitable gumming machine through which the paper to be gummed isdrawn by feeding rollers or a feeding drum, the gumming machine andfeeding mechanism operating continuously and delivering the paper to anintermittent feeding mechanism which operates to deliver the adhesivelycoated paper to the box wrapping machine in proper timed relationship tothe wrapping machines cycle of operations. In its passage from thecontinuous to. the intermittent feeding mechanism the paper is held by aweb tensioning roller in a depending loop. As

'heretofore constructed the roller rested with I by a stop. When thisoccurred the tension on the paper was relieved and the feeding action ofthe continuous feed was interrupted by various well known devices.

Due to the fact that the continuous feeding mechanism is in motion up tothe time the tension is released, the inertia of the moving partsthereof prevents an immediate stoppage of said mechanism andconsequently a sli ht excess of paper is always fed after the tension ofthe web tensioner on the paper is released thus leaving a slight gapbetween the paper web and the tensioning roller. Therefore when theintermittent feed again becomes operative the paper is pulled with asnapping action against the roller and frequent breakages of the paperstrip occur especially when operatmg on narrow strips. This tendency ofthe paper to break is moreover increased when, as in paper box wrappingapparatus, the paper is coated with a wet adhesive, the moisture of theadhesive penerating the fibres of the paper and materially reducing itstensile strength. Of course such breakages necessitate the rethreadingof the machine and therefore a consequent loss of time,-waste of paperand reduction of output.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide anew andimproved construction for a web tensioning member by means of which thestrains upon the paper due to the sudden jerking thereof, are absorbedand breakage. of the paper is prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provlde means whereby the tensionof the device can be readily altered so as to accommodate various widthsof webs and give satisfactory results with all sizes.

A further object is to allow for the regulation of the lengthand'tension of the initially fed section of the paper strip.

The above and other objects will appear more fully from the followingmore detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawingswherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portionof a box manufacturmgapparatus to which has been applied an improved tensioning deviceconstructed in accordance with the principles of the invent on; Fig. 2is an enlarged sectional detail view of a spring clamp; Fig. 3 is anenlarged slde elevation of the web tensioning device shown in several ofits operating positions;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the device be used in conjunctionwith paper box machines of the type generally known as box strlppmg orbox wrapping machines.

Mounted on the extension frame 20.0f a

box wrapping machine the main part of which is not shown, is a paperreel support 21 on which is wound a reel of paper 22. Disposed above thepaper reel 22 and secured to the frame 20 is a glue pot 23 in which arerotatably mounted the glue rolls 24, the lower roll dipping into theglue and transferring it to the upper roll which applies the adhesive tothe paper. The web of paper 25, as it is unwound from the reel 22.passes over the guide 26 and thence under the idler roll 27 being heldby the latter in contact with the up er or glue applying roll 24.

djacent to the glue pot 23 and secured to the frame 20 is a feed wheelsupport or bracket 28, having rotatably mounted on the upper partthereof a continuously rotating paper feeding wheel or drum 29. isjournaled in the bracket 28 and has secured to one end thereof a pulley31. On the other end of the shaft 30 is secured a pulley 32, which iscontinuously driven from the box wrapping machine by the belt A belt 34is trained about the pulley 31 and a pulley 35 secured to the shaft 36,which is journaled in the upper part of the feed wheel support 28 and towhich shaft is also secured the paper feeding drum 29.

A pair of web supporting, transversely extending, guide bars 37 and 38are secured at spaced intervals above the frame 20. Located between thesaid guide bars is the web tensioning mechanism which, as shown, may beconstructed as follows: Loosely mounted in a pair of bearing bosses 39(see Fig. 4) of the main frame 20 is a shaft 40 to which is rigidlysecured an arm or lever 41. The free lower end of the arm 41 haspivotally secured thereto, as by a pin 42, a secondary arm 43. Thelatter is preferably constructed as a two armed lever having one endforked as at 44, and extending rearwardly, while the other end 45extends forwardly and downwardly below the lever 41 and has secured toit one end of a tension spring 46. Mounted in the forked end 44 of thesecondary arm 43 is a pin 47 on which is rotatably mounted a roll 48,which as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 rests in the depending loop of the paperweb 25, that extends from the feed drum 29 to the intermittent feedingmechanism presently to be described.

The free end of the arm 41 is provided with the two lugs 49 and 50. inwhich are mounted adjusting screws 51 and 52. respectii ely. lock nuts53 and 54 being provided for holding said screws in adjusted position.The screws 51 and 52 are so mounted as to engage the end 45 of thesecondary arm 43 at certain points in its oscillatory motion therebydelimiting the movement of said arm.

The tension spring 46 which as pointed out above has one end connectedto the projection "15 of the secondary arm 43, has its other end securedto an adjustable clamp 55 mounted for slidable. longitudinal adjustmenton the A shaft arm 41. In order to prevent the clamp 55 from beingdisengaged from the arm 41 during adjustment the latter is provided withlateral ribs 56 which extend longitudinally along the sides of said arm,and said clamp is formed with a yoked end which engages over said ribsas shown best in Fig. 2. One of the legs of the yoked portion of theclamp 55 has screwed therein a thumb screw 57 which is adapted tosecurely hold the clamp in any given position.

To the upper pivoted end of the arm 41 is secured a depending lug 58, inwhich is mounted an adjustable stop screw 59 provided with a lock nut60. The projecting end of the screw 59 is adapted to engage the frame 20thereby limiting the downward movement of the arm 41.

The shaft 40 as shown in Fig. 4, preferably has one end extended and tosuch end is rigidly secured a lever 61 having fixed thereto a bar 62 onwhich is slidably mounted a weight 63, provided with a thumb screw 64adapted to secure the Weight 63 in adjusted position longitudinally ofsaid bar.

Supported on the main frame of the box wrapping machine is areciprocating slide 65 of the usual intermittent feeding mechanism. Theslide 65 is actuated from the wrapping machine by a rod 66 which reachesfrom the stripping machine and has one end pivotally connected to a pin67 adapted to be adjustably clamped in the slot 68 of the lever 69. Thelever 69 is pivotally mounted on a pin 70 secured in a bracket 71mounted on the main frame 20. To the upper end of the lever 69 isattached a connecting rod 72 which transmits the motion of the lever 69to a double armed lever 73 rigidly secured to a pin 74. The pin 74 ispivotally mounted in an upwardly extending lug 75 integrally associatedwith the slide 65. In the lower arm of the lever 73 is a curved slot 76,into which projects a pin 77, secured to the lug 75; said pinco-operates with said slot to limit the clockwise motion of the lever73. On the pin 74 is also rigidly secured an arm 78 on which is mounteda paper engaging dog 79.

Directly behind the slide 65 a paper stop cam 80 is mounted on a bracket81 which bracket also serves as a support for the pa or guide bar 38hereinbefore referred to. The bracket 81 is supported by a bar 82.secured in the frame 20. It will be seen from the above describedconstruction that the depending loop of the paper web 25, in which theroll 48 rests, will be placed under a tension produced by the effectiveweight of the roll 48, secondary arm 43 and arm 41 as determined by thesetting of the counterbalancing weight 63.

The operation is as follows: Assuming that the paper strip or web 25 hasbeen fed or threaded through the machine. that the slide 65 is in itsrearward position shown in Fig. 1

with the paper engaging .dog out of contact with the web and with theweb held in the position shown, by the stop cam 80; the operative thenstarts the driving means (not shown) of the box wrapping machine whichthrough belts 33, and 34 and the parts 32, 30,

31, 35, 36 described above, sets the feed wheel 2-9 in continuouscounterclockwise rotation.

When the paper is initially threaded through the machine the roll 48 isin its lowermost position, with the stop screw 59 in engagement with theframe 20, therefore no tension is placed on the paper by the roll and asa result the rotation of the feed drum 29 will not be effective toproduce any feeding of the web because the latter will not be held withsuflicient frictional engagement against said drum.

As the wrapping machine starts to function the rod 66 and slide will bedrawn toward the left by suitable actuating mechanism in the wrappingmachine. When this occurs the rod 72 will swing the lever 7 3 upon thepin 74 and the paper engaging dog 79 will be forced downwardly intocontact with the paperstrip. As the slide 65 continues to move towardthe left a pull will be exerted on the paper strip 25 tending to feed itinto the wrapping machine. The initial pulling of the paper strip isrelatively slow and even, and this movement of the strip will tend todecrease the length of the depending loop of the web 25, and to raisethe roll 48.

The spring 46 will be so adjusted according to the width and strength ofthe paper being used that the secondary arm 43 will swing upon its pivot42, as indicated by the lower dotted showing in Fig 3, when a pull ortension, less than that which would cause breakage, is plac'ed upon thepaper. Therefore the initial pull exerted by the intermittent feedingmechanism tending to raise the roll 48 produces first a swinging of thesecondary arm 43.

As the secondary arm of the tensioning device 'is so swung the weight-ofthe arm 43 with the attached parts and the spring 46 effects a tensionin the strip 25 causing said strip to frictionally engage the feed wheel29.

Immediately after the paper strip is fed into engagement with a box tobe stripped, in the wrapping or stripping machine, the machine operatesto start the box rotating. The extent of feed of the paper strip 25 bythe intermittent feeding mechanism before the box in the machine startsto rotate is small, andas the strip is coated with a more or lessslippery adhesive it is very desirable to have the initial tension inthe paper strip small so as not to cause the paper strip to slip out ofengagement with the box when said box starts to rotate. This smallinitial tension is accomplished by having the small spring 46. Thisarrangement allows the paper strip 25 to be wrapped around the corner ofthe box before the secondary arm 43 reaches the limit of its workingstroke, thereby giving the paper strip suflicient contact with the boxbefore theftension is increased.

Inasmuch as the greater number of boxes operated upon are oblong it willbe readily understood that the tensile stresses and travellingvelocities of the paper stripwill vary greatly. As the box continues torotate the paper will be consumed more ra idly and the tensionin devicewill move t ward the dot and dash ine position (Fig. 3). Due to this,added tension will be set up in the strip and said strip will be morerapidly fed by the drum 29 owing to the increased pressure and therebyincreased frictional force between the strip 25 and said drum. Thisfeeding action of the drum will vary in direct proportion to theten-sion in the web, consequently the feeding action will be greatestwhen the supply demanded is greatest.

In actual operation, the adjustments of the spring 46 and weight 63 aresuch that when the secondary arm 43 reaches a point about half waybetween its two limiting positions, as determined by thesetting of theadjusting screws 51, 52, the tensioning effect of the arm 41 begins tobe felt. By adjusting the parts in this manner the resilient shockabsorbing action of the spring 46 is available through i all parts ofthe stroke of the lever 41. In other words, if a sudden pull occurs inthe strip 25 after the arm 41 has left its lowest position the resilientaction of the spring 46 will absorb the jerk, and prevent the strip 25from tearing which would otherwise occur if a dead weight were used tomaintain the depending loop.

The construction of-the tension device is such that the abrupt pulls inthe paper strip will be absorbed by the secondary arm 43 and spring 46,the long even pulls being properly tensioned by the action of the arm 41and weight 63. It will therefore be readily seen that the paper stripwill at all times be placed under the proper amount of tension to securethe most effective feeding action of'the feed wheel 29 and that due tothe exceedingly flexible action of the secondary arm 43, the snapping ortearing of the strip present when only a single tension arm is used willbe eliminated.

In casewide strips of paper are fed and the tension desired in the stripis to be increased, this may be accomplished by moving the weight 63toward the shaft 40 thereby reducing the counterbalancing effect of saidweight. The amount of paper kept in the depending loop or bight of theweb 25 may be regulated by adjusting the stop screw 59. The employmentof the various adjust.-

ments indicated, with, a device constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the invention results in greatly extending the range ofthe machine which is of marked advantage especially where a greatvariety of paper widths is used.

Having thus fully described my invention What I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In a web tensioning device, means for applying to a web an initialstate of tension and means operative subsequently for applying asecondary state of tension to said Web.

2. In a web tensioning device, means for applying to a web an initiallight resilient tension and means operative subsequently for applying asecondary comparatively heavy resilient tension to said web.

3. In aweb tensioning device, wherein the web is fed in a depending loopor bight, means to engage said depending loop of said web and hold itunder tension, said means including devices operating in succession forautomatically applying varying tensions to the web as the depth of saiddepending loop varies.

4. In a web tensioning device, means to engage the depending loop of aweb, for automatically applying tension thereto, said means includingresilient devices for causing the effective tensioning force to beincreased and diminished as the depth of said loop decreases andincreases respectively.

5. In a web tensioning device, an arm pivotally supported at its oneend, a second arm pivotally mounted in the free end of said 'lirst namedarm, a roll rotatably mounted on said second arm and adapted to engagethe depending loop of a web and means to limit the oscillatory movementof said second arm, relatively to said first named arm.

6. In a web tensioning device, an arm pivotally supported at its oneend, a second arm pivotally mounted in the free end of said first namedarm, a roll rotatably mounted in said second arm adapted to engage thedepending loop of a web, means to limit the oscillatory movement of saidsecond arm and resilient means for normally urging said second armtoward one of the limits of its oscillatory movement.

7. In a web tensioning device, an arm pivotally supported at its oneend, a second arm pivotally mounted in the free end of said first namedarm, a roll rotatably mounted on said second arm adapted to engage thedepending loop of a web, adjustable means adapted to limit theoscillatory movement of said second arm, resilient means for urging saidsecond arm toward one of the limits of its oscillatory movement, andadjustable means to alter the effective turning moment of said resilientmeans on said second arm.

8. In a Web tensioning device, in combination, an arm pivotally mountedat one end thereof, a second arm pivotally mounted on the free end ofsaid arm, a roll rotatably mounted in said second arm adapted to engagethe depending loop of a Web and adjustable means for regulating theeffective tensioning force of said arms on said web.

9. In a web tensioning means, a lever having a roller mounted thereinfor engagement with a depending loop of a Web, said roller exerting onsaid loop and web a predetermined efiective pressure, adjustable meansfor varying said effective pressure, and. a resilient shock absorbingdevice interposed between said roller and lever for permitting saidroller to yield whenever saidv Web is placed under tensions exceedingthat produced by said effective pressure.

10. A web tensioning device as set forth in claim 9, in which means areprovided for adjusting said shock absorbing device to permit it to yieldunder different tensions.

11. A web tensioning device as set forth in claim 9 in which adjustablestops are provided .for limiting the movement of said shock absorbingdevice relatively to said lever.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MARTIN FEYBUSCH.

